In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 172

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 172

We couldn’t pick up speed because the sound of hoofbeats would be too loud.

“Phew.”

This was the most nerve-wracking and anxious moment.

I glanced back at the still quiet manor.

It felt like Biejie or Ceral might notice at any moment and come chasing after us with loud shouts.

“It’s okay, Tia.”

Perhaps sensing my anxiety.

Peres comforted me with a low, quiet voice.

The distance was so close that his whispered voice near my ear wasn’t entirely comfortable.

But thanks to that, I was able to regain my composure.

I shouldn’t show Larane that I’m anxious.

When we reached the front of the estate entrance.

“There’s no one here.”

Grandfather had kept his promise.

The main gate, which should have been heavily guarded by Lombardi Knights and soldiers, was completely empty with no one around.

“The gate is even slightly open.”

The iron gate without a lock was even open just enough for easy passage.

“Could it be…”

There was only one person who could order the Lombardi Knights and soldiers to abandon their posts.

Only Grandfather.

Larane knew this fact well, so she looked at me with surprised eyes.

“I’m not the only one who wants Larane to be happy.”

That’s actually why I asked the twins for the horses.

I could have prepared the horses myself by moving ahead of time, but even though meeting parents like Ceral and Biejie was unlucky, I wanted her to know that there were people in Lombardi who supported and loved her.

I hoped Larane wouldn’t feel lonely by herself until the day she left Lombardi.

“Everyone…”

Larane said nothing after that.

I deliberately didn’t speak to her either.

It seemed like she needed time to organize her thoughts alone.

Fortunately, by the time we escaped the manor and arrived at our destination, the grassland.

Larane was riding her horse and laughing refreshingly.

“Lady Larane!”

Avinox, who had been pacing anxiously near the prepared carriage, came running as soon as he saw Larane.

“Lord Avinox!”

Larane, who had half-jumped off her horse, threw herself into Avinox’s arms with all her strength.

The lovers who had reunited with difficulty held each other tightly like that.

“Take this.”

I approached the two and held out an envelope.

“This is a boarding pass.”

“A boarding pass…?”

“You two need to get to Chesayu as quickly as possible from now on. Go there and board Pellet Trading Company’s Eastern cruise ship.”

“Eastern… cruise? Ah!”

Larane opened the envelope, looked at the boarding pass, and her eyes widened.

Taking the cruise would allow them to reach the Eastern Region in just one week.

It’s much safer and faster than escaping by land.

“Once you arrive at Chesayu Port, Father will be waiting. I told him in advance.”

I stood in front of Larane.

And I hugged her thin body, which had noticeably lost weight in recent days.

“Go to the Eastern Region and live a happy life, Larane. It’s okay to forget about what happened in Lombardi a little.”

“Tia…”

“But you don’t need to force yourself. If you have difficult times, if you need help, write to me anytime. You understand?”

“Th-thank you. Really… really thank you, Tia.”

Finally, Larane’s tears burst forth.

I took out a handkerchief, gently pressed and wiped around Larane’s eyes, then said.

“And when your wedding date is set, send someone to Pellet Trading Company. I’ll make sure Larane can have a grand wedding that no one would envy.”

“To Pellet… Trading Company?”

Larane’s gaze wavered as she alternately looked at me and the boarding pass for a moment.

As if she had realized something.

“Could it be…”

To Larane who asked cautiously, I smiled brightly and said.

“I’ve specially arranged for you and Lord Avinox to have the best suite room on the cruise.”

The surprise was brief.

Larane hugged me tightly and sobbed.

“Thank you, thank you, Tia.”

“This much for my cousin sister is nothing. And Lord Avinox.”

At my slightly sharp gaze, Avinox tensed up slightly and answered.

“Yes, Lady Pirenthia.”

“Just make our Larane shed tears from her eyes. I’ll cut off all the cruises and trading ships going to the Eastern Region.”

“D-don’t worry!”

I glared at Avinox with a warning meaning until the end, then gently pushed Larane’s back toward the carriage.

“Hurry and go. You don’t have much time since you must arrive by the date written on the boarding pass.”

“Thank you, Lady Pirenthia, and Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Avinox bowed to me and Peres before getting into the carriage first.

“Well then, I’m going.”

Larane held my sleeve tightly until the end and said.

“I’ll write a letter as soon as I arrive in Ruman domain. And Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Larane suddenly turned to look at Peres and said.

“Please take good care of Tia.”

“Larane! What are you saying! Peres, why are you nodding your head!”

Instead of answering, Larane smiled mysteriously and quickly got into the carriage.

Her steps were incredibly light.

With the sound of the door closing with a click, the carriage wheels slowly began to roll.

Clop-clop, clop-clop.

As the sound of hoofbeats grew distant, the carriage’s figure also gradually moved farther away.

As I watched that retreating figure, before I knew it, only Peres and I remained in the dark grassland.

Whoosh.

A strong wind blew.

“Tia.”

Peres called me.

“Yes.”

“This won’t be the end. They might target you.”

“Perhaps. I know.”

I’m prepared for that much.

But it would be better than seeing Larane return coldly withered again.

The fact that the carriage had now moved far enough to be invisible gave me a strange sense of relief.

“The Empress isn’t someone who will give up here.”

She’s not someone who would push things this far without any plan in the first place.

I turned to look at Peres and asked.

“If the worst comes to pass, you’ll help me, won’t you, Peres?”

Peres caught my long hair as it fluttered in the wind.

And quietly pressed his lips to the ends.

“Even if it costs me my life, without question.”

It sounded like an exaggeration, but I couldn’t smile.

Because I knew Peres meant every word.

I stood a little longer on the grassland, gazing down the road Larane had taken, and only returned to the manor very late at night.

* * *

“Just how long must we wait, Empress!”

Yobanes burst into the Empress’ quarters, shouting irritably.

“The people are in an uproar because Lombardi has cut off all supplies entering the Imperial Capital! Everyone is cursing my name!”

The Emperor felt somewhat wronged.

He had only lent a little support because the Empress said she had a good way to tie Lombardi’s hands.

Of course, the iron mines he’d gained from it were proceeding smoothly with excavation, but such things had long since been erased from Yobanes’ mind.

Whether she knew of Emperor Yobanes’ anxious heart or not.

Empress Lavinia rose leisurely from her seat and answered.

“It will all be over tomorrow, Your Majesty.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, there’s a regular nobility council meeting tomorrow. The agenda items to be presented should have been delivered to each family by now, so we’ll have reactions soon.”

“What agenda items?”

Yobanes asked out of curiosity.

“Nothing major. Just a bill to strengthen the primogeniture laws that have been the foundation of the Empire’s growth.”

“Primogeniture laws?”

Yobanes, who had been habitually pouring wine, stopped in surprise.

Lavinia smiled and took the wine bottle from the Emperor’s hand, filling the glass herself instead.

“A law stating that unless the eldest son is involved in serious crimes or has major disqualifications like bloodline issues, inheritance rights of the family take precedence with the eldest son.”

“Hmm, such a bill would certainly be able to draw out the Lombardi family head.”

Yobanes nodded his head.

For some reason, Rulak seemed reluctant to pass the family to his eldest son Biejie.

“To prevent that bill from passing in the nobility council, the Lombardi family head would have to personally attend the meeting held in the Imperial Capital. But before the travel ban is lifted, he cannot cross the castle gates…”

Empress Lavinia’s smile deepened.

“He’ll have to either immediately agree to the marriage between Biejie’s daughter and Astana to lift the travel ban, or sit back and watch the primogeniture law pass.”

The Empress was very satisfied with the clever plan she had devised.

If the primogeniture law passed, Biejie would inherit the Lombardi family, giving Astana an unprecedented ally.

Even if Rulak Lombardi appeared at the meeting to obstruct the primogeniture law, the marriage between Larane Lombardi and Astana would bring great financial benefits.

Moreover, it wasn’t only the nobles who would be affected by this primogeniture law.

Lavinia glanced at Emperor Yobanes.

Agenda items passed by the nobility council would come up in the council meeting hosted by the Emperor.

And without proper justification, the Emperor would have to pass the bill, and imperial succession would eventually be affected too.

“The Empress has come up with a very good idea.”

Yobanes said this while hiding his expression behind his wine glass.

If the primogeniture law passed and affected even the imperial throne, it would become difficult for him to gain advantages by weighing the Crown Prince against the Second Prince.

‘But the Lombardi family head won’t let that happen.’

Setting aside his own family, he wasn’t the type to let even the imperial throne be swept away all at once.

So this time he would have to permit his granddaughter’s marriage, and if that happened, Yobanes could preserve his pride.

‘And I’ll be able to appease the people’s hearts quickly too.’

For Emperor Yobanes, it was a deal with nothing to lose.

Thinking that the Empress had finally done something pleasing after a long time, Yobanes sipped his wine with a much more relaxed heart.

* * *

Pellet Trading Company Office.

“Huff, huff! P-please look at this!”

What Beit came running to tell us about, forgetting even the cake delivery box, was a new agenda item from the nobility council.

The primogeniture law.

“This is serious.”

Cleribane said, rubbing his face wearily.

“If we’re not careful, Biejie might really inherit the family…”

Violet muttered, shaking her head as if the very thought was horrifying.

Meanwhile, I said.

“They used their brains a bit, didn’t they?”

I’ll give them that.

It seems the Empress put some thought into this one.

I knew they had some scheme, but to think they’d present this kind of bill.

But it’s not like there’s no way to overcome this situation.

“She’s probably delighted, thinking she’s dug a trap that Lombardi can never escape from.”

But I have a way left to properly give the Empress a taste of her own medicine.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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